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17. SYRIA

ContentsMajor Changes .......................................................................................1General Data ..........................................................................................1Arms Trade............................................................................................2Strategic Assets ......................................................................................4Armed Forces.........................................................................................5Ground Forces........................................................................................6Air Force ...............................................................................................9Air Defense Forces ...............................................................................11Navy

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13

Major Changes

The Syrian armed forces have deployed the indigenously made M-600 ballisticmissile (probably based on the Iranian Fateh 110 Missiles)

The Syrian air defense forces now operate at least some of the newly acquiredStrelets and Pantsir-S1 SAMs.

The Syrian navy has acquired the P-800 "Bastion" (CSS-5) coastal defense systemwith its supersonic Yakhont missiles.

General Data

Official Name of the State: The Arab Republic of SyriaHead of State: President Bashar al-AssadPrime Minister:Mohammed Jazi OtriMinister of Defense: Major General Ali Mohammed Habib MahmoudChief of General Staff: Major General Dawood Abdullah RajnehCommander of the Air Force: Major General Ahmad al-RatybCommander of the Navy:Vice Admiral Wa'il Nasser

Area: 185,180 sq. km.Population: 20,500,000

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Demography

Ethnic groups Arabs 18,511,000 90.3%

Kurds, Armenians and others 1,989,000 9.7%

Religious groups Sunni Muslims 15,170,000 74.0%

Alawis, Druze, and Shi'ite Muslims 3,280,000 16.0%

Christians (Greek Orthodox, Gregorian,Armenian, Catholics, Syrian Orthodox,Greek Catholics)

2,050,000 10.0%

Economic Data2005 2006 2007 2008

GDP (current prices) $ bn 27.97 32.66 40.42 50.88

GDP per capita $

Real GDP growth % 6.0 5.2 6.3 4.8

Consumer price index % 7.2 10.0 3.9 15.3

External debt $ bn 6.57 6.54 6.93 7.3

Balance of payments Exports fob $ bn 8.6 10.25 11.75 12.78

Imports fob $ bn -8.74 -9.36 -12.27 -14.49

Current account balance(including services andincome)

$ bn 0.29 0.89 0.4 -0.7

Government expenditure Total expenditure $ bn 8.1 9.5 10.43 13.1

Defense expenditure $ bn 1.43 1.77 1.54 NA

Real change in defenseexpenditure

% -6.6 23.8 -13.0 NA

Defense expenditure/GDP % 5.1 5.4 3.8 NA

Population m 18.9 19.4 19.9 20.5Official exchange rate S: $1 54.85 51.1 48.1 46.74

Sources: EIU Quarterly Report, EIU Country Profile, IMF International FinancialStatistical Yearbook, SIPRI Yearbook

Foreign Military CooperationType Details

Foreign forces Russia (2009)

Security agreements Iran, Russia (2006)

Joint maneuvers Russia (2009), Turkey (2009)

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Arms Trade

Arms Procurement and Security Assistance ReceivedCountry Type Details

Iran Arms transfers C-802 SSM (2007), Tor-M1 SAM (2008),HT-233 radars (2010)

Assistance Financial guarantees for debts to Russia(2007)

Cooperation in armsproduction

Cooperation in production of SSMs (2009)

NorthKorea

Arms transfers Scud C/ D SSMs (2004), including assistancein production

Pakistan Cooperation in arms

production, R&D

nuclear centrifuge technology (2004)

Russia Arms transfers Strelets SAMs (2006) , Pantsir SAM (2009),Tunguska SAMs (2007) , upgrading of SA-2SAMs (2006), MiG-29M aircraft (2009), SS-N-26 Yakhont SSMs (2009)

Assistance Upgrading of naval bases in Tartus andLatakya (2009)

Arms Sales and Security Assistance ExtendedCountry Type Details

Lebanon Arms transfers M600 SSMs and Khaibar rockets forHizbullah (2009)

Palestinian

organizations

Facilities Training camps of Hamas and Islamic Jihad

Russia Facilities Use of Tartus naval base (2009)

Defense Production

M P A

Weapons of mass destruction Production and upgrading of SSMs (in cooperation with

North Korea and Iran)

Production of chemical and biological agents, chemicalwarheads for SSMs

Army equipment Upgrading of tanks 600mm M600 SSM

220mm Raad and 302mm Khaibar artillery rockets Ammunition

Note: M - manufacture (indigenously developed)P - production under licenseA - assembly

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Strategic Assets

NBC Capabilities

Nuclear capabilityBasic research. Alleged deal with Russia for a 24 Mw reactor. Deals with China for a 27kw reactor and with Argentina for a 3 Mw research reactor, are probably cancelled.Party to the NPT; Safeguards agreement with the IAEA in force.Chemical weapons and protective equipmentStockpiles of nerve gas, including sarin, mustard, and VX.There are unconfirmed allegations that Syria received Iraq's stockpile of chemicalweapons just before the Iraq war broke out.Delivery vehicles include chemical warheads for SSMs and aerial bombs.Personal protective equipment; Soviet-type unit decontamination equipment.Not a party to the CWC.Biological weaponsBiological weapons and toxins (unconfirmed). Signed but not ratified the BWC.

Ballistic Missiles

Model Launchers Missiles Since Notes

SS-1 (Scud B) 18 200 1974

SS-1 (Scud C) 8 80 1992

SS-21 (Scarab) 18 1983

Fateh-110/M600

+ + 2007

Scud D + 2002

Total ~50

Note: see also long-range rockets under "Artillery"

Space AssetsName Type Notes

Satellite imaging GORS Remote sensing Using images from Cosmos, ERS, Landsat,

SPOT satellites

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Armed Forces

Order-of-BattleYear 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

General data Personnel

(regular)

289,000 289,000 289,000 289,000 289,000

SSM launchers ~45 ~50 ~50 ~50 ~50

Ground Forces Divisions 12 12 12 12 12

Total number

of brigades

67 67 67 67 67

Tanks 3,700(4,800)

3,700(4,800)

3,700(4,800)

3,700(4,800)

3,700(4,800)

APCs/AFVs 5,060 5,060 5,060 5,060 5,060

Artillery(includingMRLs)

3,274(3,674)

3,274(3,674)

3,274(3,674)

3,274(3,674)

3,274(3,674)

Air Force Combat aircraft 350 (490) 350 (490) 350 (490) 350 (490) 350 (490)

Transportaircraft

23 23 23 23 23

Helicopters 195 (225) 195 (225) 195 (225) 195 (225) 195 (225)

Air DefenseForces

Heavy SAMbatteries

108 108 108 108 108

Medium SAMbatteries

64 64 67 67 67

Light SAMlaunchers

55 88 88 88 88

Navy Combat vessels 16 19 21 29 29

Patrol craft 14 14 14 14 14

* Due to change in estimate.

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Personnel

Regular Reserves Total

Ground Forces 215,000 100,000 315,000Air Force 30,000 10,000 40,000Air Defense 40,000 20,000 60,000Navy 4,000 2,500 6,500Total 289,000 132,500 421,500

Paramilitary Gendarmerie 8,000 8,000

Workers'Militia

100,000 100,000

Ground Forces

FormationsCorps /armies

Divisions Independentbrigades /

groups

Brigades indivisions

All arms 3Armored 7 1 3 armd., 1

mech., 1 aty.Each

Mechanized 3 1 2 mech., 2armd., 1 aty.Each

Republican Guard 1 3 armd, 1mech., 1 aty.

Infantry/ Special Forces 1 3Airborne/ Special Forces 8-10Artillery 2SSM forces 3Anti-tank/ Infantry 2Total 3 12 20-22

Note: One armored division is a reserve unit.

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Tanks

Model Quantity In service Since Notes

MBTsHigh quality T-72(Upgraded) 122 122 2003 Upgraded by an

Italian firm T-72/T-72M 1,478 1,478 1979/

1993Subtotal 1,600 1,600Medium and lowquality T-62 1,000 1,000 1974

T-55/T-54 ~2,200 1,100 1957/1998 Some upgraded toMV standardSubtotal ~3,200 2,100Total ~4,800 3,700

APCs/AFVsModel Quantity In service Since Notes

APCs BTR-152 560 560 1967

BTR-40/50/60 1,000 1,000 1956

Subtotal 1,560 1,560IFVs BMP-1 2,450 2,450 1977

BMP-2 100 100 1988Subtotal 2,550 2,550Reconnaissance BRDM-2 950 950 1978 Also listed under

Anti-TankWeapons

Total 5,060 5,060

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Artillery

Model Quantity In service Since Notes

Self-propelled gunsand howitzers 152mm 2S3 50 50 1984

122mm 2S1 400 400 1982

122mm D30 36 36 1986 Syrian-made

Subtotal 486 486Towed guns andhowitzers 180mm S-23 10 10 1975

152mm M-1937 50 50 1987

152mm D-20 20 20 1982 130mm M-46 800 800 1970

122mm D-30 500 500 1984

122mm D-74 400 0

122mm M-1938 150 150 1976

Subtotal 1,930 1,530Mortars, over160mm 240mm M-240 10 10 1986

160mm M-160 80 80 1976

Subtotal 90 90Mortars, under160mm 120mm M-1943 700 700 1975

Rockets 220mm Raad + + 2001 Syrian-made

302mm (WS-1)Khaibar

+ + 2006 Syrian-made

FROG-7 18 18 1971

MRLs 122mm BM-21 250 250 1979

107mm Type 63 200 200 1994Subtotal 450 450Total 3,674 3,274

Logistics and Engineering Equipment

MTU-67 bridging tanks, MT-55 bridging tanks (90), tank-towed bridges, mine-clearingrollers, AFV transporters (800)

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Anti-Tank MissilesModel launchers Missiles Since Notes

AT-14 (Kornet) 50 1,500 1998

AT-4 (Spigot) 150 1980

AT-5 (Spandrel) 40 1995

AT-3 (Sagger) SP 3,000 1974 Mounted on BRDM-2and BMP-1

MILAN 200 1980

Total ~3,400Future procurement Matis (AT-11) + Under negotiation

Kornet (AT-14) + Under negotiation

Air Force

Order-of-BattleCategory Quantity In service Notes

Combat 490 390Transport 23 23Helicopters 225 195

Combat AircraftModel Quantity In service Since Notes

Interceptors

MiG-29 (Fulcrum) 20 20 1987 MiG-25 (Foxbat) 35 35 1980

MiG-23 ML/MF 50 50 1974Subtotal 105 105Ground attack Su-24 (Fencer) 20 20 1988

MiG-23 U/BN(Flogger)

56 56 1978

Su-20/22 (Fitter C/D)

100 60 1978

Subtotal 176 136Obsolete MiG-21 MF/BIS/U

(Fishbed)

~200 140 1966 Some possiblyphased out

Total ~490 ~390

Future procurement MiG-29M 10 Under

negotiation

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Transport AircraftModel Quantity In service Since Notes

An-24/26(Coke/Curl)

6 6 1979

IL-76 (Candid) 4 4 1983

Tu-134 2 2 1985

Mystre-Falcon20/900

3 3 1980

Piper Navajo 2 2

Yak-40 (Codling) 6 6 1989

Total 23 23

Training and Liaison AircraftModel Quantity In service Since Notes

Jet trainers L-39 Albatross 90 ~40 1980

Piston/Turbo-prop MBB 223 Flamingo 40 40 1976

Mushshak 6 6 1994

Subtotal 46 46Total 136 96

HelicoptersModel Quantity In service Since Notes

Attack Mi-25 (Hind) 52 ~35 1980

SA-342 Gazelle 38 38 1976Subtotal 90 ~70Medium transport Mi-8/17 (Hip H) 100 100 1971

Mi-2 10 10 1975Subtotal 110 110Naval combat Ka-28 (Helix) 5 2 1990

Mi-14 (Haze) 20 11 1984

Subtotal 25 13Total 225 ~195

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Miscellaneous Aircraft

Model Quantity In service Since Notes

Reconnaissance MiG-25 R 7 + 1985

UAVs and mini-UAVs Shmel/ Malachit + +

Advanced Armament

Air-to-air-missilesAA-2 (610), AA-6 (150), AA-7 (470), AA-8 (1,120), AA-10, AA-11

Air-to-ground-missilesAS-7, AS-9, AS-10, AS-11, AS-12, AS-14, AT-2, HOT

Note: Number in parentheses refers to the quantity of missiles purchased, not to currentinventory levels.

Air Force Infrastructure

Aircraft sheltersIn all airfields, for combat aircraftMilitary airfields 21Abu Duhur, Afis North, Aleppo, Damascus (International), Damascus (Meze), Direz-Zor, Dumayr, Hama, Jarah, Khalkhala, Latakia, Marj-royal (Bley), Nassiriyah, al-Qusayr, Rasm al-Aboud, Sayqal, Shayarat, al-Suweida, T-4, Tabaka, Tudmur

Air Defense Forces

Surface-to-Air MissilesModel Batteries Launchers Since Notes

Heavy missiles SA-2 (Guideline)/

SA-3 (Goa)

100 1971 Being upgraded

SA-5 (Gammon) 8 1983

Total 108

Medium missiles SA-8 (Gecko) 14 56 1982

SA-6 (Gainful) 50 1973

Pantsir-S1 3 12 2008 Delivery in

progress Tor-M1 + + 2008 Allegedly from

IranTotal 67

Light missiles SA-9 (Gaskin) 20 1975

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Model Batteries Launchers Since Notes

SA-24 Strelets(Igla-S)

32 2006

SA-13 (Gopher) 35 1986Total 88

Shoulder-launchedmissiles SA-7 (Grail) + 1973

SA-14 (Gremlin) +

SA-16 Igla-1 +

SA-18 Igla + 2003

Future procurement Pechora-2A (SA-2) + Upgrading of

SA-2 Pantsir-S1 36 Being delivered

Tunguska-M1 6

Other air Defense SystemsModel Quantity In service Since Notes

Short-range guns 57mm S-60 700 ~400 1973 Partly phased

out 37mm M-1939 300 0 1973

23mm ZSU 23x4SP (Gun Dish)

400 400 1977

23mm ZU 23x2 600 ~300 1986

Total 2,000 ~1,100

RadarsKolchuga, Long Track, P-14 (Tall King), P-15 (Flat Face), P-12 (Spoon Rest), P-30,P-35, P-80, PRV-13, PRV-16, HT-233

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Navy

Combat VesselsType Quantity Length (m.)/

displacement (t.)Notes/armament

MFPBs Ossa I/II 16 38.6/245 4xSS-N-2C Styx SSM

4x30mm guns

ASW vessels Petya III 1 81.8/950 4xRBU 2500 ASW mortars

3x76mm guns3x533 mm torpedoes22 minesAdditional 1 non-operational

Mine warfarevessels Sonya class (Type

12650)1 48/450 2x SA-N-5 SAMs

2x30mm guns8 mines

Yevgenia class(Type 1258)

5 24.6/77 2x25mm guns2x14.5mm MGsSome non-operational

Subtotal 6Semi-submersible Tir class 6 21/28.1 2xC-802 (Nur) SSMs

Total 29

Patrol CraftType Quantity Length (m.)/

displacement (t.)Notes/armament

Zhuk class(Type 1400M)

8 24/39 4x14.5mm MGsSome non-operational

MIG-S-1800 6 18.7/60 1x20mm gun

Total 14

Landing Craft

Type Quantity Length (m.)/displacement (t.)

Notes/armament

Polnochny B-classLCT (Type 771)

3 75/760 180 troops or 350 tons2x140mm MRLs4x30mm guns

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Auxiliary VesselsType Quantity Length (m.)/

displacement (t.)Notes/armament

al-Assad (Ro-Ro) 1 105/3,500 Training ship

Natya (Type 226) 1 61/804 2xSA-N-5 (Grail) SAMs4x30mm gunsformerly a minesweeper, nowconverted to oceanographicresearch

Total 2

Coastal DefenseType Launchers Since Notes

Missiles C-802 + 2007

SSC-5 (P-800)Yakhont/ Bastion

+ 2009 Bering delivered

SSC-1B Sepal 12

SSC-3 12 1966 Armed with SS-N-2C missiles

Total 24

Naval Infrastructure

Naval bases 3Latakia, Minat al-Baida, TartusShip maintenanceand repair facilities

1

Repairs at Latakia